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Wireless home network has become the primary way we connect to the Internet. When you set up
your wireless network, however, the default name (SSID) is often hard to remember and, not to
mention, boring. You may also want to change your SSID to make your network harder to hack
into. Often, router manufacturers may name the SSID the name of the company that made it, such
as "Cisco" or "Belkin". Using this information, a hacker has a better chance of breaking into a
network once they know the manufacturer of the router. To set your network apart, youll want to
change the name and make it uniquely yours. Follow this guide to change the SSID of any router.

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Open a web browser window. Enter your router's IP address in the address bar.

The IP address varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and will be listed in the
documentation. If you have misplaced your documentation, and you do not see your router
listed here, search the web for your router model and "default IP address" to find the correct
information. Here are some common ones:[1]
Qwest (AKA CenturyLink), DLink, Netgear, Trendnet, Senao: 192.168.0.1
Linksys, 3Com, Asus, Dell, US Robotics: 192.168.1.1
Belkin, Microsoft, and SMC: 192.168.2.1
Apple: 10.0.1.1
Your routers IP address is often the same as the routers default gateway. To find
this on a PC, open the command prompt and enter ipconfig. In the section
dedicated to your wireless network, look for the Default Gateway line. Copy and try
that number.
On a Macintosh, open the Network control panel. You can access this by clicking
the Apple menu and selecting System Preferences. Open Network and look for
Router: This is your router's IP address.

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Use your router's software. Some routers come with software that will allow you to make

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configuration changes without using the web interface. You will likely still need to enter a
user name and password.

Log in. If prompted, enter your router's user name and password, and log into your

router. Not all routers will require this step. If your router defaults to requiring a
password, it will be listed with the documentation. If so, the default password is generally
admin, and you may leave the User name field blank.
You can also search the web for default user names and passwords.

Navigate to the Wireless Settings page. When the routers web-based setup page

opens, look for the button or tab named Wireless, Wireless Settings, Wireless
Setup, or anything similarly named. This page will contain a variety of different settings.[2]

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Look for the SSID field. It may be labeled "Network Name," "Wireless Network

Enter a new name for your wireless network. Be creative, give your network a

Name," "Router Name," or some variant. It may be pre-filled with a default name such
as "dlink," "linksys," "myquest23456," or some other equally unexciting name.[3]

name that you will stand out for youbut don't make it too personal; anybody nearby
who's looking for a wireless network will see that name.

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Save your new name. Click on "Apply," "Save Settings," "Save," or whatever your
configuration screen uses to finalize the process and save your changes.
Verify your new network name by using a wireless device such as a laptop, tablet,
or smartphone. Log in using the new information, and verify everything works.

Close your browser window. If you have devices with your old router information

saved, you will need to rescan and connect to the new name. Make sure to reenter
your password.
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Tips
If you have entered the IP address of the router properly, and it is still not responding, try
resetting the router. The method to do that will be included in the documentation, or on
the manufacturer's website. This should reset the IP address to the default state.
Remember that whenever someone comes within range of your wireless network,
instead of seeing a default name for the router, they will see your personal router name.
When choosing a name more than one word, you must use underlines in between, so for
example, "House_1" or "Dont_Look_Here".
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Warnings
Never set personally-identifiable information or your password as your network name,
and always password-protect your network!

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Sources and Citations

1. http://www.techspot.com/guides/287-default-router-ip-addresses
2.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10024/products_qanda_item09186a0080a357
00.shtml
3. http://www.belkin.com/us/support-article?rnId=1567

Article Info
Categories: Featured Articles | Wireless Networking
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In other languages:

Espaol: cambiar el nombre de una red inalmbrica, Deutsch: Den namen eines
Drahtlosnetzwerkes ndern, Portugus: Mudar o Nome de uma Rede Sem
Fio, Italiano: Cambiare il Nome a una Rete Wireless, Nederlands: De naam van een
draadloos netwerk veranderen, Franais: changer le nom dun rseau sans fil,
:
, : , Bahasa Indonesia: Mengubah
Nama Jaringan Wireless
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